Trains and mines

The Trimdon Grange rescue(photo by she_who_must - Flickr)

Last week's session had no official theme but that didn't last long. As has become usual, Colin was MC and he asked Derek to start us off.

Derek alluded to 16 February 1882, the date of the Trimdon Grange colliery disaster before singing the song about it, written by Tommy Armstrong: Trimdon Grange Explosion (Roud 3189). This led us straight into a theme of mining which Mike followed with Morley Main (Keith Marsden) about the 1872 disaster there.

Colin claimed a tenuous connection with The Fireman's Growl (FW Skerrett); at least a railway fireman worked with coal. This allowed Simon to follow on with The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore (Jean Ritchie) which deals with both railways and mines.

It wasn't all mines and railways though. It was very nice to see Paul for the second time in about a month. Paul has moved a little further away from Westerleigh, making it less convenient for him to come to our sessions. It was also good to see that he has fully embraced singing along with his guitar playing. Performing all self-penned material, he started with Lest We Forget, a song about when his Aunt was suffering from dementia. His Aunt also featured in the tune The Hotties, it being the name she and Paul's father gave to the stretch of canal in Pontypridd where they swam (his aunt was a celebrated distance swimmer). This particular stretch of canal was warmed by the outflow from the steelworks! Paul's other contribution was a song called Deep Soft Touch.

Derek returned to the theme with Farewell To Cotia (Jock Purdon) and Mike to the railway siding with New Railroad. Terry C came in with Weepin' And Wailin' Away (Ted Edwards) and What Happened To The Ponies (Jim Moreland).

Colin came back at us again with Wheels On Fire (Bob Dylan, Rick Danko) and Simon took us back down the mines with Dark As A Dungeon (Merle Travis).

Other contributions came from Phil whose songs included I'm Free From The Chain Gang Now (Lou Herscher, Saul Klein), Chris with No John No (Roud 146) and Roger who sang Bless 'Em All (Fred Godfrey, Robert Kewley).

Terry C finished off the eveing with Eric Bogle's Leaving Nancy.

Do come along to this week's session which, as far as I know will start without a theme again, but you may have other ideas.

Here's a selection of songs sung during this session.

(Number of people present - 9, of which all 9 performed)